Parking & Directions

Parking at Lincoln Woods State Park is free. RI DEM charges no entry fee, and its park map marks parking at the beach end of Olney Pond and at the boat ramp, with more room beside the picnic groves along the park road. There are two ways in: the main entrance at 2 Manchester Print Works Road off Route 123 (Great Road) on the north-east side, and a second entrance from Twin River Road off Route 146 on the west side. The park is open sunrise to sunset every day of the year.

The Main Entrance (Route 123)

DEM describes the park as nestled between Routes 146 and 123, with a covered bridge greeting you at the Breakneck Hill entrance. On DEM's map the main gate is in the north-east corner, where the entrance road leaves Great Road (Route 123) beside Barney Pond. You pass an entrance booth, and the park's permit office sits just outside the gate on the same corner. DEM gives the park's address as 2 Manchester Print Works Road, Lincoln. The road is named for the Manchester Print Works, a cloth-finishing mill that DEM's history says stood on the entrance road near today's ranger booth and covered bridge.

The Twin River Road Entrance (Route 146)

The second gate is on the west side, off Twin River Road near the Route 146 interchange. DEM's map shows a second entrance booth there at Chimney Grove, where picnic sites 48 to 58 sit, and the Blackstone Heritage Corridor calls it the secondary entrance at the Twin River Road exit off Route 146. Sunset Stables, the park's riding concession, lists its address as 1 Twin River Road, so this is also the way in for horseback riding.

Beach Parking

The two lots marked with a "P" on DEM's map are at the south-west end of Olney Pond, between the pond and Route 146. The lower one sits beside the bathhouse, food stand, first aid and restrooms at the beach; the upper one is a short walk north along the shore. If you are coming for a swim, use the Twin River Road entrance or follow the park road round the pond to the beach. See the beach guide for lifeguard hours and rules.

Boat Ramp Parking

DEM's map places the boat ramp, with its own lot, on the east shore of Olney Pond. The Blackstone Heritage Corridor says it is the only launch suitable for large towing vehicles, about a mile from the main entrance, reached by a bumpy dirt road signposted on the left of the ring road, with 15 to 20 spaces. The kayaking and boating guide covers the ramp and the motor rules.

Parking by Picnic Sites

Picnic tables and shelters line the park road on the north and east sides of the pond, and DEM's map numbers each site. From the second Saturday in April to October 31 you need a permit to use a picnic table, so check your permit's site number against the park map and park beside it. The picnic areas guide covers the reservations.

Driving Round the Park: the Les Pawson Loop

The park road that circles Olney Pond is the Les Pawson Loop. State rules make it one-way, counter-clockwise, with two exceptions: when the gates across the road are closed, traffic is two-way, and the section between Twin River Road and the north parking lot is always two-way. Walkers, runners and cyclists share it, so drive slowly. The Les Pawson Loop page has the details.

By Bus

DEM's map shows a RIPTA bus stop on Louisquisset Pike (Route 246), west of the park, with a note that there is park access by a pedestrian path under the highway. The path brings you out near the beach lots. Check RIPTA's own schedule before you go; this site does not track routes or times.

Gates Close at Sunset

State park rules do not allow people or vehicles inside a state park between sunset and sunrise without written permission, so plan to be back at your car before dark. The hours page has the seasonal details.

No Beach Parking Fee

Rhode Island charges daily and season parking fees at its eight state ocean beaches, from Misquamicut to Scarborough. Lincoln Woods is not on that list, and its map says plainly: no fee for entry. The only charges here are for reserved picnic tables, shelters and fields.